The New York Yankees are eagerly awaiting the return of their star designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, who has been sidelined since June 22 with a hamstring strain.
According to manager Aaron Boone in a report to the Associated Press before Friday night's game against the Boston Red Sox, Stanton is expected to make his comeback as early as Monday, just in time for the team's road series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Boone said before Friday night's game, “He'll probably be back. We're shooting for Monday in Philly, but we'll also see how these next couple of days go, too. I know he's doing a heavy day back there today, so let's get through that and see where we're at.”
He said further, "He's pretty much done everything he needs to do. Now it's about building, though, building a little bit of volume. Obviously, he doesn't play the field that much, but you've got to build up that volume.”
Giancarlo Stanton's injury return might be a welcome boost for the Yankees, who have struggled in his absence.
The Yankees have lost three games in a row and five of their last six, dropping them to second place in the American League East behind the Baltimore Orioles, although they led the league by 1 ½ games.
Giancarlo Stanton | Conor P. Fitzgerald / Shutterstock
With Stanton back in the lineup, the Yankees hope to regain their momentum and challenge for the division title.
The 32-year-old slugger has been missed dearly by the Yankees, who have deployed Aaron Judge at DH in his absence.
While Judge has performed admirably, Stanton's presence is irreplaceable. Before his injury, Stanton had batted .246/.302/.492(119 OPS+) with 18 home runs and 45 runs batted in over 69 games.
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Stanton's injury history is well-documented, with this being his sixth stay on the shelf since the start of the 2021 season.
However, the New York Yankees are hopeful that he can stay healthy and contribute to the team's playoff push.
Stanton has played in only 419 games since Opening Day in 2019.
The Yankees' upcoming series against the Phillies will be a crucial test. They will face a strong lineup and a deep pitching staff.
Philadelphia Phillies are formidable opponents, and the Yankees will need all their help to win.
Stanton's return after his injury strain will undoubtedly give the team a much-needed boost, but they will still need to play at the top of their game to secure a series win.
With their star hitter back in the fold, the Yankees will be looking to make a statement against the Phillies and assert their dominance in the American League East.
The next few days will be crucial for the Yankees, as Giancarlo Stanton's return and the trade deadline will shape the team's fortunes for the rest of the season.